It was a meeting Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has described as a "great moment, but a sad moment."
"Thank you for the leadership you've shown to your country and the world over eight years."
And with the pleasantries out of the way, he and United States president Barack Obama went on to share the agenda of their 50-minute bilateral talks.
They say they covered the US-Australia alliance, the fight against the self-proclaimed Islamic State and the resettlement of refugees on Nauru and Papua New Guinea's Manus Island.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Turnbull said the alliance between the two countries has never been stronger.
"A lot of discussion about the American election, as you'd imagine, and the implications for free trade there. President Obama has been encouraging everybody to wait and see, and continue. We will all continue to make the case in our national interest."
After the meeting, Mr Obama reiterated the strength of the US-Australia alliance.
"The Prime Minister has already reached out to President-Elect Trump and his team, and I indicated to him my confidence that the US-Australia alliance will remain as robust as ever, because it transcends party politics."
The pair also had a chance to discuss the fight against IS in the Middle East, as well as the wider, global fight against such groups.
Mr Obama says the success of that campaign is, in part, thanks to the Australian government and the men and women in its military.
"Australia has been our most stalwart ally when it comes to troop deployments and the effort there -- the progress that they made in Iraq as Iraqi forces seek to retake Mosul, the training of Iraqi troops, making sure that we are prepared for any humanitarian aftermath of that campaign."
Strategic issues such as the South China Sea maritime dispute were also discussed.
Both leaders trumpeted the merits of free trade and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP.
Mr Trump, who allegedly intends to withdraw the United States from the 12-nation trade agreement, has called the deal negotiated by the Obama administration a "job killer."
But Mr Turnbull says when it comes to trade, he and President Obama believe in the importance of open markets.
"Increasing the opportunities for businesses to grow and develop, whether it's in Warrnambool or Wyoming, it benefits across the world. And we've agreed, as we have with the other leaders here, the importance of making the case for open markets repeatedly and more persuasively now than ever."
Mr Obama joked about he calls a strong alignment of interests between the United States and Australia.
"It's not often where I have a meeting and I've got nothing to disagree with. Usually, there's something we can disagree about to keep us busy."
And then, some parting words for Mr Turnbull.
"Not only do I wish the Prime Minister luck as he moves forward, but I've assured him that we're going to do everything we can to have a strong handoff and continuity in the new administration so that we can continue to work together to promote prosperity for our people and security for our people."
