Heta opened proceedings with back-to-back 121 finishes, and if Bailey entertained hopes of making it competitive, those were swiftly dashed as the world number 10 reeled off further 117 and 104 checkouts as he marched to a 6-0 win.
The Wollongong crowd lapped it up, but the man on stage seemed barely to break sweat.
"I just felt really comfortable up there," Heta told the PDC after his masterclass.
"I just want to perform, so to do that in front of my friends and family - I loved it.
"I'm forever grateful that I can come home and get this support, and hopefully I can build on that performance tomorrow."
Next up for the home favourite: a mouth-watering quarter-final with reigning world champion Luke Littler, who had to withstand a barrage from Haupai Puha after the 40-year-old strung together a pair of 12-darters to take a late lead, before The Nuke regrouped to edge through in the deciding leg.
Aussies all out
If the locals hoped Heta's performance would inspire his fellow Australians, they were left wanting.
The PDC's travelling elite produced a merciless clean sweep, dashing Oceanic hopes in the opening round and confirming a clear gulf in quality on the night.
Josh Rock, making his World Series bow, was particularly ruthless against legend Simon Whitlock, averaging 108.16 and dispatching six of his eight attempts at doubles en route to a 6-1 victory.
"I didn't actually feel any nerves tonight," Rock said, fresh from his run to the World Matchplay semi-finals.
"I really enjoyed my first experience of playing in Australia, and I'm very happy with that performance."
Rock now meets Stephen Bunting in the next round, who was similarly remorseless in disposing of debutant Brody Klinge.
The highlight for Klinge was a spectacular 161 checkout, enough to dodge the whitewash, but Bunting's response was to close with a brisk 14-darter and a flourish that hinted at bigger ambitions.
Price powers through
Reigning champion Gerwyn Price also took care of business with a minimum of fuss, seeing off Joe Comito 6-3 and posting a 100.45 average in the process.
Comito's flashes of brilliance - twice stringing together five perfect darts - were not enough to dislodge the Welshman, who kept his eyes firmly on a fifth World Series crown.
"I wasn't firing on all cylinders, but a win is a win," Price shrugged. "Joe hit some good scores at the right time and put me under pressure, but winning breeds confidence, and that's all I want at the minute."
Elsewhere, both Luke Humphries, the world number one and Premier League winner, recovered from 2-0 down to dispatch Jonny Tata with a burst of high-quality legs that showed why he tops the rankings.
"The win is all that matters," Humphries said.
"I started off the game really poorly, but I find that sometimes when I'm behind I produce my best darts, and that's what I did tonight."
Chris Dobey staged a rescue act of his own against Tim Pusey, winning four on the bounce after falling 4-2 behind to book a quarter-final with Price.
Mike De Decker rounded out the night with a composed 6-2 win on his World Series debut, proving too consistent for fellow newcomer Brandon Weening and capitalising on six out of ten attempts at double to set up a Saturday clash with Humphries.