Point Pleasant Battery was initially an earthwork battery with eight 24-pdr smooth bore guns. The were also two 12-pdr SB gun in a small redan to protect the rear of the battery from land attack. At this time it was variously known as Breastwork Battery and later as Fielding’s Battery.
By 1852 Point Pleasant Battery mounted some ten 24-pdr SB guns, and these were upgraded to 32-pdr SB gun by 1861. These 32-pdr appears to have remained in position until at least 1886, with Ives Point Battery now being the primary coastal defence battery. On the shore line, below the more modern 12-pdr Q.F. battery it is still possible to find the racers and pivots for these 32-pdr SB guns.
In about 1872 two Defence Electric Lights were built on the headland, some eighty meters from Point Pleasant Battery. See separate entry for the Point Pleasant Defence Electric Lights. Initially a steam powered engine room was built in brick casemates to the rear of the battery and this can still be seen although it is all bricked up. A new powered engine room was built immediately behind the 12-pdr emplacement about 1939.
In the 1890’s a 12-pdr Quick Fire Battery was built over the old smoothbore battery. Plans date June 1897 show the layout of this new 12-pdr Battery with two gun pits and an underground magazine between them built forward of the gun line. This battery was operation by 1901 and work in conjunction with the 12-pdr Q.F. Batteries at Ives Point. At this stage there was an Artillery Store and Caretakers Quarters in the gorge of the battery, with the Electric Light Engine Room being further to the rear.