Claiming property ownership?

I am a 69 y/o pensioner who was invited by a friend of 40yrs to stay on a her property for as long as wanted after I retired. The conditions were that I pay for all rates and expenses on the property and took care of the garden etc. I spent $90,000.00 renovating the very old house, building a large modern shed etc and kept the place clean and tidy. After living here 10 yrs now she has sent me an eviction notice to get out and I am devasted it has ended this way. I hear there is a law that if I pay the rates for "X"number of years, I can claim ownership. Anyone know anything about this law. It would be better than winning lotto if it was true.