When Donald Trump stunned the world by beating Hillary Clinton in last year's United States presidential election, Malcolm Turnbull found himself in a pickle.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
America's foreign policy establishment and experts around the globe had predicted a Democratic victory for months and Australia's diplomats in Washington DC were without a way to contact the businessman-turned Republican president.
In an unorthodox move, Australia's ambassador Joe Hockey turned to golfer Greg Norman for Mr Trump's personal phone number. The pair had played together for years, and the now famous request allowed Mr Turnbull to jump the queue of world leaders offering their congratulations.
With golf in mind, more careful planning went into Mr Turnbull's first face-to-face meeting with the President. Mr Turnbull will present the New Yorker with a golf ball presentation box commissioned through the Bungendore Wood Works Gallery, near Canberra.
When the gallery received a commission for the box, handmade over several days with West Australian Plantation Jarrah and Silver Ash, they were unaware it would be presented to Mr Trump on board the decommissioned aircraft carrier USS Intrepid in Manhattan, the site of commemorations of the 75th Anniversary Battle of the Coral Sea.
The event will be Mr Trump's first visit to New York since his January 20 inauguration and will be hosted by Australian-born media mogul Rupert Murdoch.
Exhibitions coordinator Stan d'Argeavel said local craftsmen had made gifts for a range of world leaders in the past, including Prince Charles and the Pope.
"Very rarely are we made aware of the recipient of any purchased item by government departments," he said.
"One that comes to mind is a request for a small box that an iPod Nano would fit into. It was a small request but no less important than a major purchase.
"The maker made the box, we passed it to the original purchaser and we were much later informed that it was given as part of a gift to Barack Obama."
The gallery sells a range of commemorative gifts and boxes, made from Australian timbers and a few international wood species.
Mr d'Argeavel said the craftsman behind Mr Trump's gift had asked to remain anonymous.
"The gallery's reputation built up over the past 34 years, combined with the proximity to Canberra, has led to many purchases being made by representatives of various government departments and representatives from a number of embassies located in Canberra," he said.
Mr Turnbull will hope to clear the air after the two leaders clashed over a refugee resettlement deal signed with the Obama administration.
They are expected to discuss the longstanding alliance, North Korea and the Middle East during a bilateral meeting before Mr Turnbull and his wife Lucy return to Australia on Friday.
