Was this supposed to be in the H&A universe?
Yes it was. Headland refers to Barrenjoey Headland, the actual filming location of Summer Bay.
While the series was a ratings flop, it was also the springboard for Rachael Taylor’s acting career.
Not quite right. Originally, the series was supposed to be a spin-off of Home and Away using a number of current and former regular characters/actors. While creating, they realised reusing the same characters was limiting them storywise as was reusing some actors. So they decided to create a completely new soap with new characters but some of the same actors. They planned for other actors to appear in other roles.
The exteriors were filmed around the Headlands Hotel in Austinmer, a village of Wollongong, south of Sydney. That historic guest house and adjoing hotel was later demolished to build a large resort style hotel. The “South Coast University” scenes were filmed at the University of Wollongong. The interiors were filmed in a studio in Sydney.
Photos of the Headland Hotel when I visited in 2009, just before it was demolished:
from my photo collection.
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I never really understood why 7 commissioned Headlands.
It was a poor and cheap production.
Because they thought they could piggy back on the success of Home and Away and have similar success.
It has always been the way. Something succeeds, then they have to do a spin-off series or a copy-cat.
Neighbours toyed with the idea of doing a couple of spin-offs. They even filmed a pilot for one of them but it didn’t make it to a full series.
16 November 1980: Channel 0/28 (SBS) premieres variety series Cabaret, with the first episode hosted by Graham Kennedy.
16 November 2001: The Seven Network presents the 43rd annual AFI Awards, from the Melbourne Exhibition Buildings.
16 November 2017: CBS completes the takeover of Network Ten.
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17 November 1975: TEN10, Sydney, expands its 6.00pm news bulletin to one-hour — Eyewitness News Hour with Eric Walters.
17 November 1991: The Nine Network presents the three-hour special 35 Years Of Television, featuring Graham Kennedy, Bert Newton, Jana Wendt, Mike Willesee, Ray Martin, Craig McLachlan, John Waters, Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum, Brian Henderson, Olivia Newton-John, Kylie Mole (Maryanne Fahey), Max Walker and David Lyle.
YouTube: @Petarkco
17 November 2002: SBS premieres two-part documentary series Dinosaur Dealers, following the international trade in stolen fossils.
17 November 2008: Network Ten premieres the UK-commissioned Aussie soap Out Of The Blue. Starring Sophie Katinis, Ryan Johnson, Clayton Watson, Katherine Hicks, Daniel Henshall, John Atkinson, Samara Weaving, Zoe Carides, Noel Hodda, Diane Craig, Maggie Dence and Bernard Curry.
17 November 2015: SBS launches new channel Food Network
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An inspired decision at the time.
Melbourne followed a week later, though reverted back to half-hour a few months after that.
18 November 1978: Melbourne’s ATV0 presents its annual Nerve Deafness Telethon, with hosts during the day including Steve Raymond, Mickie de Stoop and Peter Couchman.
18 November 1981: The Seven Network premieres drama series A Country Practice.
18 November 1992: SBS premieres three-part series Short Films Big Dreams, a tribute to Australia’s short-filmmakers focusing on the students and graduates of the Australian Film Television and Radio School.
18 November 1996: Network Ten presents the special 40 Fun Years, an irreverent look at Ten’s contribution to the history of Australian television, hosted by Tottie Goldsmith, Grant Bowler, Colette Mann and Greg Evans and includes guest appearances by Bert Newton, Barry Crocker, Peta Toppano, Lorraine Bayly, Tom Oliver and Bob Downe (Mark Trevorrow)
18 November 2000: SBS presents the 42nd annual AFI Awards, live from the Hordern Pavilion, Sydney. Hosted by Jonathan Biggins.
18 November 2002: ABC premieres the documentary series Dynasties. The first episode looks at the Downers, a three-generation family of politicians.
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19/11/2003 Guy Sebastian is crowned the inaugural Australian Idol in the Grand Finale held at the Sydney Opera House.
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19 November 1956: New TV Station — ABV2, Melbourne.
Source: Listener In-TV
19 November 1982: ABC premieres drama series MPSIB (Missing Persons Special Investigation Branch), starring Barry Quin, Peta Toppano and Mike Preston.
19 November 1994: The final episode of A Country Practice, ending a year’s run on Network Ten after 12 years on Seven.
19 November 1996: ABV2 presents the special 40 Years In The Making — ABC TV Melbourne, narrated by Alan Hopgood.
19 November 1999: The Seven Network presents the People’s Choice Awards, hosted by Andrew Daddo and Belinda Emmett from the Capitol Theatre, Sydney.
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20 November 1978: ABC presents the special O’se Shalom, a 90-minute documentary analysing and explaining the Jewish faith, including rituals, family life, marriage, diet and worship. Presenting the program is Sydney rabbi Raymond Apple and This Day Tonight host Sonia Humphrey.
20 November 1999: The final episode of Hey Hey It’s Saturday, ending a 28-year run.
20 November 2007: The Nine Network presents the documentary Who Killed Harold Holt?, hosted by Ray Martin, one month before the 40th anniversary of the disappearance of prime minister Harolt Holt.
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Also on this Day on Saturday the 20th of November in 1999, Bev Poole from (Townsville, Queensland) became the Very Last Ever Contestant on the Plucka Duck Major Prize Wheel and Spun up the Omni Saucepans which Saw Bev Poole became the Proud New Owner of a $19,990 Nissan Pulsar Plus Series 2 Hatchback.
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What a momentous occasion. Why don’t we remember that? 
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A decade later in 2009, HHIS would return with two reunion specials and a full on new season in 2010, but to extremely mixed reception.
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YouTube: Chris Pyke
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It was a long time ago.’Hey Hey ‘ was great ,my Saturday night viewing for many years
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