Point Pleasant Searchlight Emplacement originally appears to have been built when the submarine minefield was established in 1876. The lights would have been intended to prevent interference with the mines. A 6-pdr Quick Fire Battery was built opposite at Ives Point in about 1900, and there were 12-pdr Quick Fire Batteries and York Redoubt and at an adjacent site at Point Pleasant. The original Defence Electric Lights used concrete and this is one of the earlier examples of concrete emplacements in Halifax. Power initially came from a steam engine room built in casemates to the West of Point Pleasant Battery, but during World War 2 an oil powered engine room was built immediately behind the 12-pdr emplacements. During World War 2 the Defence Electric Lights were primarily to guard again submarines and torpedo boats.
TNA WO 78/4286 is a map clearly showing the location of the 12-pdr Q.F. Battery at Point Pleasant the the arc of light from the two Electric Light Emplacements.
The site is now in poor condition having been battered by the sea and weather in an exposed position.