I remember when above Varrock West bank world 1 was the hub for trading and merchanting rares - Pumpkins, Easters, God Armour, Trimmed Rune (g) and (t). Rune Scimitars were sold close to Zaff's staff shop, and Amulets of Power were in the ruined building to the south.
I also vividly recall the Grand Exchange not being there, and the Varrock stone walls were much closer - the main f2p wilderness and Pk'ing spot was on the North East outskirts of Varrock as well.
Collecting Runes at Black Knights Castle in the old Wildy was also a main "money earning" task for me back then